TERRITORIES
Artists: Gutierrez + Portefaix
Multi-media Installations
(中文新聞稿)

Para/Site Grand Opening and inauguration of our new gallery
Thursday, 9 September 2004, 6-8pm

Exhibition Period: 9 September - 3 October 2004

Para/Site Art Space celebrates the inauguration of our new gallery at no 4 Po Yan St (right next door) with the first solo-exhibition in Hong Kong by artists Gutierrez + Portefaix. They will present a series of videos, photographs and 'documentation' in a full-scale installation at the new Para/Site Art Space in Sheung Wan.

"Territories" presents a large scale, dense, fast, panorama of urban development and architectural structures in China. The expression of this new spatial condition related to the notion of development, is clearly embedded in specific cycles of production and distribution. "Territories" explores these dynamic and multi-dimensional forces that quickly spread across the surface of the territory. These characteristics, visible traces marking the land, appear as paradigms of contemporary civilization, and are evident in the simple inventory of a commodified society labeled "Made in China".

For "Territories", the Pearl River Delta region functions as an important focal point for the display of current processes of spatial production. This territory is made of unrelated fragments of urbanism, each ignoring the conditions of its surrounding. Each fragment forms an island; determined and transformed autonomously. These islands are programmatically independent; they may receive a concentration of a particular building type or a mix of various functions depending on their particular conditions.

During the opening, Gutierrez + Portefaix will launch their latest book, China (map book, 2004).

TERRITORIES - WORKS IN EXHIBITION
Video 1 - "Back home" - 30 minutes

Light box - "Back home" - C-print
Light box - "Beijing hole" - C-print

Installation 1 - "China: double face"
Video 2 - "City of production" - 10 minutes
Video 3 - "City of consumption" - 10 minutes

Installation 2 - "PRD: lean planning/thin pattern"
Video 4 - "PRD stories" - 16 minutes
Video 5 - "ALCO story" - 7 minutes
Video 6 - "SUN HING story" - 7 minutes

Laurent Gutierrez + Valerie Portefaix are French architects, based and teaching in Hong Kong. Laurent Gutierrez is an Assistant Professor at the School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Valerie Portefaix is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture, Hong Kong University.

In 1997, they founded MAP office - a collaborative studio involved in cross-disciplinary projects that incorporate architecture and the visual arts. They have participated in several local and international exhibitions, including the 7th Architecture Venice Biennale and the 1st International Architecture Biennale in Rotterdam, where they won an award for the best 'Inspiration'. They have published a number of articles on urban phenomena in Hong Kong and China. Their publications include mapping HK (2000), which details both the physical and dynamic transformations taking place in Hong Kong; HK LAB (2002), a interdisciplinary book in which Hong Kong is seen as an advanced laboratory for innovative solutions; and an architectural monograph, Yung Ho Chang/Atelier Feichang Jianzhu - A Chinese practice (2003). Their current research on "Lean planning" explores the impact of production and distribution mapped onto a re-convertible environment, and the specific conditions of the "Made in China" in the Pearl River Delta region.

For further details: Cindy or Carol at Para/Site Art Space: 2517 4620,
email: info@para-site.org.hk
Para/Site Art Space
G/F, 4 Po Yan Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Gallery hours: 12 - 7 pm (Wed to Sun)
(closed on Mon, Tue & public holidays)

Extra funding for the relocation and renovation of Para/Site was generously supported by our Patrons. Para/Site gratefully acknowledges their support.